lymes disease---a word to the wise

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My wife has just been diagnosed with lymes disease. She apparently got bit about three weeks ago behind her right knee. Symptoms---fatigue, swollen and achey joints, very sensitive skin, cramping muscles and a cough.

Finally convinced her to go to the doc. Doc says when its caught early as in the achey joints period it can be knocked out by antibiotics. So if any of you get symptoms like that don't wait for it to go away because then you're in for a rough ride. Get it looked at pronto in the early stages when its easier to treat. It can be fatal. The muscle cramping can get to the heart and then its all over.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), August 18, 2000

Answers

Also look for the tell tale signs of a red round rash .As John said caught early its no big problem , left untreated it is .We've been through it 2x with our 11 year old son .Also if in a pron area there is a vac. ,you must be at leeast 15 to get it .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), August 20, 2000.

We live on a farm and have at least 40 acres of woods and deer like you wouldn't believe and we both have had the above symptoms several times but when we ask our dr. if it could be lyme's disease, he just laughs. He doesn't think it is in Ky. Is it? I wish we could change drs. but since we are in an HMO can't do that till the next renewal time rolls around next year.

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), August 21, 2000.

John, I am sorry to hear about your wife. Was it caught early enough? How is she doing? We will keep you both in our prayers. God Bless! Wendy

-- Wendy@GraceAcres (wjl7@hotmail.com), August 21, 2000.

Thanks Wendy. Yes it was caught in time. The Doc sez when its caught in the muscle cramp, joint stiffness stage its caught early enuf so it can be eliminated by antibiotics. After that its more difficult to manage.

Thats why I made the post to begin with---early attention can prevent premature death.

And Tnx for the prayers. All prayers gratefully accepted.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), August 21, 2000.


Thank God you got it in time! I got it before anyone had any idea what it was. Typical (now) symptom - the "bullseye" rash. No big deal for me, except that I am now having a bugger of a time with my knee joints, which do not always do as I wish. But it comes and goes, at least for me. In another couple of weeks, I'll be fine, at least until a couple of years pass, and I'll probably have another episode that will make me happy that that's the worst of my problems! GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 21, 2000.


I got bit last year, and had the "bulls-eye", the ache, fatigue, etc. Antibiotics knocked it out good. So now I take extra garlic oil and brewer's yeast everyday, and haven't been bit once this year. Also, just aquired 5 guinea and 2 peafowl chicks this week (free!), so the tick population will be on the decline here!

As far as the post about Lyme's in Ky - it is VERY possible. My doctor was very surprised when I told him I had Lyme's and needed him to write me a presciption. Seems our neck of the woods is better known for Rocky Mtn. Fever...

-- Eric in TN (ems@nac.net), August 22, 2000.


i have been in the medical field for the last 31years and in regards to a disease not being in any area i question. the reason being how well this country is traveled. granted the disease in this case lyme's disease may not be common in a given area. but if you have the ticks you have what is needed and if you have the symtoms the disease should be checked out.

in regards to a HMO doctor not wanting to treat it the cost of the treatment could very well be the reason. a long course of anibiotics is expensive. if you are really concerned about having lyme's disease a lab test can be ran but again if you belong to a HMO lab tests cost money. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), August 23, 2000.


whats the diff. between lyme,s and rocky mnt.fever? i thought they were the same. Bob in s.e.ks.

-- Bob Condry (bobco@hit.net), August 24, 2000.

When I was looking for a farm about nine years ago one morning I woke up and found three ticks on my waistline. Pulled them off and didn't think much about it. About ten days later I noticed during the nights I would alternate between night sweats and freezing. Went to my Doctor who took a blood sample. Didn't prove to be either Lyme Disease or Rocky Mount Spotted Fever. However, he was sure it was a tick borne-problem and treated me with anti-biotics, which worked. Have have a tick-borne problem, have been bitten by what was probably a brown-recluse spider. Waiting for the snake bite.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 25, 2000.

Yes, everyone! Health officials are concerned about giving vaccine to public for fear of false security. Ticks are responsible for other SERIOUS human diseases as well. The vaccine is only meant to protect against Lyme. People, be aware that there are other SERIOUS problems with tick bites so ALWAYS be on the alert if you are in their realm. That is, TAKE SAME PRECAUTIONS against ticks EVEN if you have been vaccinated!!

-- Pat (Zumende@aol.com), August 25, 2000.


Spiders can cause a rash similar to lyme's disease. I was bitten and my first thought was lyme's disease, the test proved negative. The doctor at the hospital said it was an allergic reaction to some kind of bug probably a spider. He also said it was a good thing it was lyme's disease because I'm allergic to alcohol and the medication for it would have alcohol in it. I had the reaction on my arm for 20 months, it was interesting. Another time I had a bug bite last 2 years and went away when I took a homeopathic remdy for a tooth problem. I hope whatever got me this time doesn't last that long, so far only a little over a week.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), August 25, 2000.

Cindy , maybe I missed understood you but standard coarse treatment after a lyme tick bite is Amoxicillin or other low dose antibiotics for 14 to 21 days .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), August 25, 2000.

I was in the woods this weekened walking over the land and I was bitten by a brown wood tick. The woods are full of deer. This morning I have a red spot about the size of a quarter around the tick bite. Am I in trouble? Should I call my doctor for a prescription? I don't feel bad - how long does it take.

-- Joanne T. Griffin (jgriffin@aquik.net), April 11, 2001.

About 12 years ago in northern Wisc. I picked up the Milwaukee journal and read a brief blurb about lymes disease. The red circular rash with the pale center. Friend had one on her stomach so we went to the doc. He said no problem but we insisted on the test. Sure enough it came back positive. Antibiotics took care of the problem. Catch it early, have met acouple of people who didn't and they were hurtin.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

my daughter had a tick under her arm and another in her ear. my nephew has a dog and lives where there are lots of brush and trees. she was bitten about i week ago.today she developed a fever of 103 with a headache. should i get her checked for lymes? or am i just an over reactive mother. sandy

-- sandy escalon (jassr5@yahoo.com), April 25, 2001.


My mum was diagnosed with M.E. or chronic fatigue syndrome over eighteen months it has been very bad the time she has been ill and the other day i found a checklist of ymptoms for Lymes disease I live in the UK and I'm wondering if they think she may have it this is all a bit odd because Iam just finding out what it is ? can anyone help ? I thought they knew she had M.E. for definite ... it would really help if anyone would write to me, I am young and am not sure what to make of this. thankyou . james

-- james tyler (bali@happysurfing.co.uk), April 28, 2001.

Help me people ive got a huge report to do and not much imformation - this repot has to be 20 MINUTES please help -------E-mail me at ben_505111@yahoo.com

-- Benjamin Tomas Ullom (ben_505111@yahoo.com), May 01, 2001.

John, Thank you for the post. It is really helpful to hear of other peoples experiences.

Just two weeks ago my joints all got puffy and with in 12 hours I hurt in every joint. It was difficult to go up and down stairs, to walk, to get dressed and I ran a low fever too. I also had swollen glands in my neck and was tender under the arms.

After 3 days, I felt a little better but still went to the dr. Doc was most concerned about the lymph nodes under my arms being swollen. I had started a 4 day cleansing fast (1.Fruit, 2.Herbal Tea, 3. Raw or steamed veggie, 4.Veggie Broth) the day I went to the dr. and did not start the antibiotics he gave me (Zithramax, 5 day course) because I wasn't sure how the fast would affect the med or vice versa. By the end of the 4 days, I'd started feeling better and did not take the med at all. Since then I've had one day when my hands and feet got puffy. I also will wake up some nights with my joints hurting. The longer I lay in bed the more they hurt.

Does this sound like Lyme Disease? I've had no rash and I seem to have a flair up when I've not eaten right. Doc will do blood work if I ask him to. How much does the test cost generally? We don't have insurance and need to prepare for sticker shock.

-- Heather in MD (heathergorden@hotmail.com), May 07, 2001.


First of all, is my HMO weird, or what? My lab tests cost NOTHING. I only pay a sawbuck for the doctor's visit, and everything else is free.

I went to the doc, at the insistence of What's Her Name, my wife, because I had a VERY weird reaction to a tick bite (and I've had plenty of tick bites over the years.

Doc told me he's fairly certain that it's not Lymes, but to watch for the symptoms which have been so well described by others, above.

My "bull's eye" had a very startling appearance, yet the doc said that, because it was AROUND the bite, rather than NEAR the bite, but not around it, it was not the normal sign for Lyme.

Also, I brought him the little shit that bit me, who was takiing a time out in a film canister; the tick was about an eighth of an inch across (not counting the legs). Doc (and also all the research I did on the net) told me that the Lyme ticks are much smaller--about the size of a pin head.

So I'm relieved. The weird appearance of the bite was caused by an allergic reaction, plus necrotic tissue in the center, which was very dark charcoal grey in color.

Certainly, however, I will be watching out for Lyme's symptoms, as suggested by doc.

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@ecoweb.net), May 08, 2001.


I am also convinced my husband has lymes disease but our GP says it's just a virus. This week he has been so ill, with a rash, high temp tender aching joints, light headed. I'm really worried all he has had is pain killers and piriton. He is a gardener by trade.

-- sally sargeant (sallyand john@sjsdevon.fsnet.co.uk), August 17, 2001.

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